US 12,482,834 B2
Fuel cell bipolar plate design for reduced corrosion potential
Tomoki Tambo, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Ercan Dede, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Yuqing Zhou, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US); and TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/877,513.
Prior Publication US 2024/0039016 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04029 (2016.01); H01M 8/2485 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04029 (2013.01) [H01M 8/2485 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a first fuel cell;
a second fuel cell electrically connected in series with said first fuel cell;
a cathode configured to receive a positive charge from said first fuel cell and said second fuel cell;
an anode disposed apart from said cathode and configured to receive a negative charge from said first fuel cell and said second fuel cell;
a manifold enclosing said anode and said cathode;
coolant disposed within said manifold and surrounding said cathode and said anode; and
a seal disposed between said cathode and said anode so as to prevent said coolant from leaking into said first fuel cell,
wherein said cathode includes a seal portion disposed adjacent to said seal and a remaining portion separated from said seal by said seal portion, and
wherein said remaining portion of said cathode is configured to be non-parallel with said anode so as to reduce shunt current at said seal portion.